Endgate for trucks



July 14, 1936. R. w. ALLEN ENDGATE FOR TRUCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 5, 1936 July 14, 1936. R, w, ALLEN 2,047,453

ENDGATE FOR TRUdKs w 1 "5 w" R a? Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFEE ENDGATE FOR TRUCKS Ralph W. Allen, Sioux City, Iowa Application March 5, 1936, Serial No. 67,388

3 Claims. (01. 29651) The device forming the subject matter of this application is an end gate adapted to be mounted on a wagon box. The end gate embodies a supporting frame and a collapsible barrier slidably mounted in the frame. The invention aims to improve the construction of the frame and to provide novel means for connecting the frame to the wagon box, stock rack or the like. Another object of the invention is to improve the collapsible barrier and to provide novel means for mounting the barrier slidably on the supporting frame. A further object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the frame may be opened at the top, to permit objects of considerable height to be placed conveniently in the wagon box when the barrier is opened by collapsing its constituent parts outwardly with respect with the median longitudinal line of the wagon box.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in elevation, an end gate constructed in accordance with the invention and assembled with a wagon box, the barrier being closed;

Fig. 2 is a top plan wherein parts are broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the barrier opened, a portion of the top of the supporting frame being removed;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

In the following description, it will be supposed that the observer is behind the wagon body, looking toward the front, the terms front and rear, and similar words, being selected accordingly, in locating the relative positions of parts.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a rectangular supporting frame, embodying parallel bottom bars I. The lower ends of vertical, parallel side posts 2 are disposed between the ends of the bottom bars I and are secured thereto as shown at 3. The upper ends of the side posts 2 are disposed between parallel outer top pieces 4 and are secured there- 10 to as shown at 5. A spacer 6, shown in Fig. 7, is held by a securing element I between the outer top pieces I. Cap plates 8 are secured to the upper edges of the outer top pieces 4 of the frame. At their inner ends, the cap plates 8 are supplied with upwardly projecting studs 9. Intermediate top pieces ID are located removably between the outer top pieces 4. The intermediate top pieces It are held in parallel relation to each other by a cap plate II, secured to the upper edges of the intermediate top pieces Iii. The cap plate II projects at its ends beyond the ends of the intermediate top pieces I0 and in the projecting ends of the cap plate II, there are openings I2, adapted to receive the studs 9 on the cap plates 8 of the outer top pieces 4.

The studs 9 and the openings [2 constitute interengaging elements for holding the top pieces I63 in place between the parts 4, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Wear plates I4, such as angle members, are secured to the bottom bars I of the frame, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The horizontal flanges of the angle members l4 extend inwardly beyond the inner surfaces of the bottom bars I, toform a reduced slot I5, shown best in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Uprights I6 are secured to the forward side of the frame, by means of the securing elements l, which attach the uprights to the outer top pieces 4, and by means of securing elements H, which attach the'uprights to the bottom bars I. The uprights I6 extend downwardly below the bottom bars i, to form feet I8. Noting the places where the reference numerals I9 are applied in Fig. 1, it will be observed that the uprights It extend inwardly, toward each other, beyond the inner ends of the outer top pieces 4, and the upper ends of the uprights I6, therefore, form stops or abutments .against which rests the removable frame section formed by the intermediate top pieces I I).

Angle members 2% are secured to the side posts 2 and have forwardly extended flanges, which are shown clearly in Fig. 2. Bracket plates 2I are secured to the rear flanges of the angle members 28. The numeral 22 marks the bottom of a wagon box, and the sides of the wagon box are shown at 23. The frame, including the bottom bars I, rests on the bottom 22 of the wagon box, the feet l8 of the uprights IE on the frame being received in openings 24 (Fig. 6) in the bottom 22 of the wagon box. The forwardly extended flanges of the angle members 20 overlap the sides 23 of the wagon box, as shown in Fig. 2. Strap bolts 25 are secured to the sides 23 of the wagon box and extend removably through the bracket plates 2!. Lever nuts 26 are threaded on the strap bolts 25 and engage the bracket plates 2| to hold the frame of the end gate in place, the feet 18 of the uprights l6 being engaged in the openings 24 of the bottom 22 of the wagon box, to aid in retaining the frame firmly but removably on the wagon box.

The end gate comprises a two-part barrier, which, as a whole, is marked by the letter B. The barrier comprises a plurality of parallel, vertical slats 21. The upper ends of the slats 2? slide in the space between the outer top pieces 1 and in the space between the intermediate top pieces i9. Angle members 28 are secured to the rear surfaces of the slats 2?, and extend beneath the lower ends of the slats, as shown in Fig. 6. The angle members 28 terminate in depending fingers 29, slidably received in the slot E5 (Fig. 5) which exists between the horizontal flanges of the angle members l4 that are secured to the bottom bars 5 The slats 27 of the barrier B are joined together in two groups, as shown in Fig. 4, by links 36. The intermediate portions of the links 38 are connected by securing elements 3! to certain of the slats 21. The links 39 are supplied in their ends with elongated slots 32, receiving securing elements 33 mounted in the slats which are on opposite sides of the slat to which the intermediate portion of each link is connected by the securing element 3|. The securing elements 33 may carry roller washers 34, movable in the slots 32 of the links 30. The slots 32 of the outermost links (Fig. 4) receive securing elements 35, mounted in the side posts 2. Although the parts 35 and 33 have been referred to as securing elements, it will be understood that they can slide in the slots 32 of the links 35. A keeper 36 is mounted on the innermost slat 2'? of one portion of the barrier B and is adapted to cooperate with any suitable latch mechanism 3?, on the other portion of the barrier, to hold the barrier in the closed position of Fig. 1.

When it is desired to open the barrier B, its constituent parts are collapsed outwardly, in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 4, the securing elements 33 sliding in the slots 32 of the links 38. If it is desired to load a horse or some tall object in the wagon box, then the intermediate top portion to of the frame may be lifted 01f the studs 9, as shown in Fig 4.

The device is strong and simple in construction and comprises an end gate which will serve adequately as a barrier, it being possible to. open the barrier, and its supporting frame, as well, should occasion require.

A means is provided for preventing swine, sheep or other small animals from sticking their legs through the openings that exist between the slats 2?. With that end in view fixed guard plates .180 are secured at E8! to the side posts 2, and are provided along their top and bottom edges with hook shaped flanges M22, in which slide plates ms, secured at I04 to the innermost slats 2?, the construction being such that the plates H33 can telescope or slide with respect to the plates 5%, when the parts of the barrier B are separated, as in Fig. 4.

What is claimed is:

1. An end gate comprising a substantially rectangular frame including top and bottom memers, the top member having a removable secti 1: which, when removed, forms an opening in diate portion of the top member, a

barrier made up of slats having their ends guided movement in the top and bottom members, and means for connecting the slats together in groups, with the slats of each group slidable toward and away from the slats of the same group, to permit outward collapsing of the groups in opposite directions, thereby forming in the barrier, an opening aligned vertically with the opening in the top member.

2. An gate comprising a substantially rectangular frame including a bottom member and a top member, the top member comprising outer portions and an intermediate portion located between the outer portions, the outer portions and the intermediate portion each comprising parallel cap plates connecting the bars of the outer portions, a cap plate connecting the bars of the intermediate portion, interengaging elements on the cap plates and releasably connecting the ends of the cap plate of the intermediate portion with the cap plates of the outer portions, and a collapsible barrier mounted at its lower end to slide on the bottom member, the upper end of the barrier being slidable between the bars of the outer and intermediate portions of the top member, beneath the cap plates.

3. An end gate constructed as set forth in claim 1, in combination with inner and outer slidably overlapped guards closing portions of the spaces between the slats, the outer ends of the outer guards being secured to. the frame, and the inner ends of the inner guards being secured to the inner slats of the groups.

RALPH W. ALLEN. 

